United Nations InformationUnited Nations Information

General Assembly committeesGeneral Assembly committees

Background information on UNBackground information on UN

Secondary sourcesSecondary sources• Max Planck, law review articles, etc.Max Planck, law review articles, etc.

United Nations YearbooksUnited Nations Yearbooks• HeinOnline: “United Nations Law HeinOnline: “United Nations Law

Collection” libraryCollection” library Encyclopedia of the United NationsEncyclopedia of the United Nations

• Reference KZ4968 .O84 2003Reference KZ4968 .O84 2003

Charter of the United NationsCharter of the United Nations

Available online:Available online:• http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/http://www.un.org/en/documents/charter/

Simma’s Charter of the United Nations: Simma’s Charter of the United Nations: A CommentaryA Commentary• KZ4991 .C48KZ4991 .C48

Charter of the United Nations: Charter of the United Nations: Commentary and DocumentsCommentary and Documents• KZ4991 .G66 1969KZ4991 .G66 1969

Exercise #1Exercise #1

Find the authentic, full text version of Find the authentic, full text version of the UN Charter and provide its proper the UN Charter and provide its proper citationcitation• Hint: Because it authorized the creation of Hint: Because it authorized the creation of

the UN, it couldn’t be registered at the the UN, it couldn’t be registered at the UN…so, which country do you think might UN…so, which country do you think might keep the official copy?keep the official copy?

Symbols of the Main BodiesSymbols of the Main Bodies

A/- : General AssemblyA/- : General Assembly S/- : Security CouncilS/- : Security Council E/- : Economic & Social CouncilE/- : Economic & Social Council T/- : Trusteeship CouncilT/- : Trusteeship Council ST/- : SecretariatST/- : Secretariat

UN DocumentsUN Documents

Types of UN DocumentsTypes of UN Documents

Resolutions and DraftsResolutions and Drafts AgendasAgendas Reports and LettersReports and Letters Meeting RecordsMeeting Records

Locating documents on the UN siteLocating documents on the UN site

How to locate UN documents generallyHow to locate UN documents generally

Step 1Step 1• If you are not sure what exactly you are If you are not sure what exactly you are

looking for, start by looking for a press looking for, start by looking for a press release or news article that gives you release or news article that gives you context for what you should be searching context for what you should be searching forfor– i.e., if you are researching the rights of women i.e., if you are researching the rights of women

in armed conflict, you might have taken notice in armed conflict, you might have taken notice of this excerpt from a recent Economist article: of this excerpt from a recent Economist article: “In 2008 the UN Security Council officially “In 2008 the UN Security Council officially acknowledged that rape has been used as a acknowledged that rape has been used as a tool of war.”tool of war.”

Step 2Step 2• Figure out what you know before you start Figure out what you know before you start

searchingsearching– In our example, we know the following search In our example, we know the following search

parameters:parameters:• Date: 2008Date: 2008• Body: Security Council (S)Body: Security Council (S)• Topic: rapeTopic: rape

– What we don’t know:What we don’t know:• What type of document it is (resolution, etc.)What type of document it is (resolution, etc.)• What it’s official title isWhat it’s official title is

How to locate UN documents generallyHow to locate UN documents generally

Step 3Step 3• Search the UN’s ODS using the keywords Search the UN’s ODS using the keywords

you have, then limit the results using the you have, then limit the results using the facets on the right-hand side of the results facets on the right-hand side of the results screenscreen

How to locate UN documents generallyHow to locate UN documents generally

Search by exact phrase only if you

are SURE you know the correct wording

Use facets on the side bar to limit results to only those you want—remember, we know that it was a SECURITY COUNCIL document

issued in 2008

By using facets, we reduced the results from 53 to a more manageable 8

Now use your judgment to select the most relevant

document

Read document to locate other relevant, related document citations

How to locate UN docs by citationHow to locate UN docs by citation

If you already have a citation (e.g. If you already have a citation (e.g. S/2008/364), use the “Search by symbol” S/2008/364), use the “Search by symbol” feature of the UN Documentation system: feature of the UN Documentation system: http://www.un.org/en/documents/http://www.un.org/en/documents/. .

You must select the language you want the document retrieved in

before you get the result

Example #2Example #2

Locate this UN document: Locate this UN document: E/CN.17/1997/5. E/CN.17/1997/5. • What date was it issued?What date was it issued?

Locating General Assembly resolutionsLocating General Assembly resolutions

From the main “Documents” page, From the main “Documents” page, scroll down under “General Assembly” scroll down under “General Assembly” and select “Resolutions”and select “Resolutions”

Then select the GA session the Then select the GA session the document was issued indocument was issued in

Locating General Assembly resolutionsLocating General Assembly resolutions

Since resolutions are listed in

chronological order, use CTRL+F to find your keyword on the

page

Voting records are also linked

Example #3Example #3

““..the two deals follow a UN resolution ..the two deals follow a UN resolution in 2008 on creating a legal regime for in 2008 on creating a legal regime for aquifers”aquifers”• Locate this resolution and provide it’s Locate this resolution and provide it’s

official citationofficial citation

Locating voting records and speechesLocating voting records and speeches

If you want to locate a voting record or If you want to locate a voting record or speech by a certain individual, use speech by a certain individual, use UNBISnetUNBISnet

Again, you must select the language you want

the document retrieved in before you get the result

Example #4Example #4

Who gave more speeches at the UN Who gave more speeches at the UN during their presidency—Clinton or during their presidency—Clinton or Bush?Bush?

Example #5Example #5

What two countries voted against What two countries voted against A/RES/63/162?A/RES/63/162?

UNTSUNTS

http://treaties.un.orghttp://treaties.un.org Click on “United Nations Treaty Series”Click on “United Nations Treaty Series” Do not be fooled by the presence of a Do not be fooled by the presence of a

search box…this database is awfulsearch box…this database is awful Try doing an Advanced Search and Try doing an Advanced Search and

limiting to as many set fields as possiblelimiting to as many set fields as possible

UNTSUNTS

Example:Example:Locate the agreement between Locate the agreement between

Hungary and Iraq on cooperation in Hungary and Iraq on cooperation in radio, television, cinema, theater, and radio, television, cinema, theater, and news, of October 11, 1961news, of October 11, 1961

Example #6Example #6

Locate the Air transport Agreement Locate the Air transport Agreement between Luxemburg and Iceland, between Luxemburg and Iceland, October 23, 1952October 23, 1952